Fear of Math: How to Get Over It and Get on With Your Life! [Paperback]

Claudia Zaslavsky (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Zaslavsky, author of Africa Counts: Number and Pattern in African Culture (1979) and other books and articles on math teaching and phobia, believes that the stereotype of (white) male superiority in mathematics has been used sometimes unthinkingly and sometimes deliberately to disqualify women and minorities from good educational opportunities and jobs. Much of her book is based on excerpts from "math autobiographies" in which people describe their good and bad experiences as math students. These stories illustrate how the fear of math is imposed by the attitudes of teachers and society and how overcoming fear can open up new opportunities. Zaslavsky describes some nonthreatening methods of math instruction, and she also includes a list of resources for parents and students. Her work, however, is not so much a self-help book as a discussion about the social effects of math ability stereotypes and inadequate education. If readers see themselves as victims of math discrimination rather than as bad students, they may be encouraged to give math another try. For general collections.
Amy Brunvand, Fort Lewis Coll. Lib., Durango, Col.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

By exploring the cause for many people's phobia about the study and use of mathematics, then suggesting methods for reducing this anxiety, Zaslavsky will put many readers in control of their academic and daily conflicts with mathematics. Zaslavsky blames bad teachers (and takes little time to explore what makes them bad) in her "math autobiographies" created from her wide-reaching interviews. Zaslavsky examines inequities within school systems and society regarding math and minorities, then offers positive teaching strategies that can be used with young children, elementary and high-school students, and adults. She suggests fun aspects of math that should be taught and offers a number of success stories. Denise Perry Donavin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (May 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813520991
• ISBN-13: 978-0813520995
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,386,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It interested everyone around me!, February 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fear of Math: How to Get Over It and Get on With Your Life! (Paperback)

As I read this book, I noticed family members gathering around me to ask me what it was about - at every chapter! I believe that their interest in the book confirms the reason for which it was written: to address the negative attitudes associated with math in America and to determine the points of origin for them. Although I was an engineering major in college for two years before switching majors, I too could relate to the book. I became disenchanted with math during those courses but was extremely fond of it before college. This book motivated me to "revisit" the past and come to terms with it. More importantly, as a mother and a teacher-to-be, I learned NOT to pass on "myths of innate inferiority" to my child or to my future students.

While Zaslavsky may not delve into ways to teach math in interesting, applicable, non-humiliating ways, she does address examples of how this may be accomplished. For the scope of the book, it's enough. I feel that her purpose was to enlighten readers while reigniting an interest in learning math - a tall order, and noble at that! After reading Fear of Math, readers may turn to other books for more ideas. A few choices to consider are Gary Tsuruda's Putting It Together and Marilyn Burns' Math for Smarty Pants. Thanks to Zaslavsky, Tsuruda, and Burns, my former love for math has been rejuvenated.

Regardless of your math history, this book is well worth reading - either to understand why others believe they have difficulty with math or to discover for yourself why you've developed ill feelings and why it's critical not to pass these on to others. If you are a parent, an aspiring teacher, or a practicing teacher, this is a book that you must find time to read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not helpful, March 21, 2008

By 

Madison Taylor (Odessa, Tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fear of Math: How to Get Over It and Get on With Your Life! (Paperback)

I bought this book because I have horrible math anxiety. I can't seem to pass my college algebra class! Anyway, this book is more like a pat on the back and a "you can do it" more than actually helping you. All througout the book the author talks about how women and minorities are mathematically supressed, and have been taught that only white males can be good at math. -Huh?- This book is just filled with a bunch of statistics and examples on how women and minorities can be good at math too... and that's it. I got really tired of reading this stuff over and over again, so I would skip a chapter ahead and she would STILL be talking about how it's a common misconception that only white men are good at math. Skipped another chapter - more statistics on how women and minorities are just as capable....blah blah blah.

So let me save you four hours and $20.00: Math really isn't that hard, its just all in your head. Women and minorities are not dumber than white males. (insert 521 statistics that back up this statement)People have different ways of learning, and american schools do not accomodate to that. The end.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Fear Still Prevails, Alas, December 23, 2010

By 

Jeffrey C. Warshaw (Bradenton, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fear of Math: How to Get Over It and Get on With Your Life! (Paperback)

This is NOT the book to get you over your fear of math or teach you how to do math problems you cannot do now. Half of the book talks about the psychological reasons for math fear, which bored me to tears. I don't CARE why I can't do math--I want to know how to overcome it! This book was a big disappointment for me. The formulas it gives are WAY too complex to be helpful. Not recommended for math-phobes like me. There are better books out there.